It’s not often you say thanks to your local county council, even on bin days, but East Hampshire District Council need a big firm pat on the back for creating Butserfest for several reasons.
Firstly, they’ve created a festival that is primarily aimed at 14 to 20 year olds, which is a rarity, and secondly in order to police and accommodate this audience, they have made the bold and brave statement of making the whole festival both drink and drug free. It enables the festival to be solely about the music and the community spirit of shared live performances; set on the stunning Butser Hill. What more could you possibly ask for?
Finding venues that accommodate 14 plus shows is very difficult and something that bands like La Dispute have been advocating throughout their careers. Butserfest is allowing a platform for this to be explored and indeed cherished. And this year’s line up isn’t half bad either. Below, we outline the key bands to check out, both established and upcoming:
Creeper
Creeper are starting to deliver on what seemed like months and months of potential. And heck, having an army of followers all clad up to the eye balls in Creeper-esque leather must make you feel positive about your own band’s future. They produce fun songs that grow on you, with relatively huge sing-alongs that make fans turn their heads. It is not new, and surely Davey Havoc sits at home pondering his wider influence on the scene, but they possess enough vigour and showmanship to make them one of the ones to not miss at this years Butserfest, and one of our star picks.
Blood Youth
Blood Youth are slowly but surely creating a hardcore following for their infectious brand of post hardcore noise. Two strong EPs down, surely the platform to the next level lies in an equally impressive debut full length. Packed full of riffs and musical tension, their live set is bound to be one of the best and most frantic of the day, and singles such as ‘Failure’ are dead certs for everybody to get their jiggle on.
Zoax
Zoax are a really exciting prospect and offer much as both a live and studio band. They come full of party anthems and energy and are one of the major bands to watch, both at Butserfest and over the coming months. Our tip, avoid future ticket line disappointment and watch them now, before they get huge. With tunes full of grooves that are infectiously heavy, Zoax possess a unique blend of post-hardcore noise that sets them apart from others in the scene. They really are treading a path to future stardom and we advise you to check them out early.
Fort Hope
Fort Hope are a rarity in that Jon Gaskins’ vocals are both discernible and immaculately delivered. Voted the Best British Newcomer in the Kerrang Awards last year, the bubble of expectation is well and truly inflated. ‘Plans’ is one of the finest single release by a UK band of the last few years with both stunning vocal delivery and a staccato heaviness that the scene is clamouring for. These boys will continue to win plaudits in waves and we are excited to catch the boys at Butser.
The One Hundred
The One Hundred deliver a new brand of hardcore that is accompanied by a grimy and dance-floor vocal synonymous with bands like Enter Shikari and TRC. They are really heavy and will be one of the main bands bringing chaos to the Cross Roads Stage. Vocalist Jacob possess one of the scene’s greatest and easiest screams and if this doesn’t get your hips moving, then nothing else at Butserfest will do. Bring your safety gear, pillows and parcel tape, and let’s lose our proverbial.
Griever
On one listen to ‘Conflicted’, Griever immediately posses enough to take a huge chunk out of the scene. Energetically, vocally and riff-wise, they possess what Funeral For A Friend have sadly hung up for good, and there’s no reason why they can’t step in and fill this void that we have all just about mourned to its fullest. Metalcore takes some serious stick, and often it’s warranted, as lifeless chugger replaces any nuance of songwriting, minus a few bands that fly the flag high and proud. But Griever deliver something new between genres that could see them do very well. Big support performances for Crossfaith, Stray From The Path and Being As An Ocean have enabled Griever to develop a live confidence that will shake the hill of Butser to its core.
ROAM
ROAM bring to Butser that infectious, saccharine, polished pop-punk that has been popular forever and doesn’t seem like dying anytime soon with our very own Neck Deep going stateside and others seemingly following suit. ROAM will be returning to these shores proper in November with Like Pacific, Columbus and WSTR and Butserfest gives you the chance to catch them before. If you want to Pogo hop yourself to happiness, then ROAM are well worth your time.
High Down
High Down are another of the UK’s hopeful pop punk bands trying to nestle into the scene alongside an already bulging list of competition. Butserfest’s introducing stage is giving High Down and others the chance to play a festival alongside stalwarts in the scene. This DIY attitude and promotion is commendable and we don our hats to Butserfest for allowing emerging talent to perform. High Down possess more than enough strength to find their slot within the scene.
Butserfest takes place on the 10th September 2016 at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire. Full details, including tickets, are available via the festival’s website.